Disc drive actuator incorporating injection molding, flying leads, and

Abstract

The present invention provides an improved actuator arm assembly including scalloped locking flanges with indentations for longitudinal, perpendicular, and torsional support, an injection molding for precisely locating and fixing a motor coil bobbin, motor coil wires, magnetic latch striker plate, and a crash stop to an actuator arm. Apertures on the actuator arm allow the plastic molding to pass through and lock the actuator arm to the motor coil bobbin together. The magnetic latch striker plate fixably parks the actuator arm in the disc drive assembly. Locating apertures of various shapes in the motor coil bobbin adds further stability and aids in interlocking the plastic molds around the motor coil bobbin. Furthermore, to reduce the height of the disc drive, protect the lead wires from being unduly stressed during the formation of the mold, and increase wire strength to tolerate stresses during testing and assembly, another embodiment of the invention utilizes insulating sleeves around the lead wires. Thus, after forming the lead coils from a molded coil mounted at the rear of an actuator arm, the two lead wires from either end of the coil are led out from the end of the coil, and plastic tubes are slid over the wires up to a point closely adjacent the wound coil. The wound coil is then molded, fixing its shape and holding it in place on the rear of the actuator arm.